Daily Archives: December 1, 2021

Let's look at example that shows how quantum computers can succeed where classical computers fail:

A supercomputer might be great at difficult tasks like sorting through a big database of protein sequences. But it will struggle to see the subtle patterns in that data that determine how those proteins behave.

Proteins are long strings of amino acids that become useful biological machines when they fold into complex shapes. Figuring out how proteins will fold is a problem with important implications for biology and medicine.

A classical supercomputer might try to fold a protein with brute force, leveraging its many processors to check every possible way of bending the chemical chain before arriving at an answer. But as the protein sequences get longer and more complex, the supercomputer stalls. A chain of 100 amino acids could theoretically fold in any one of many trillions of ways. No computer has the working memory to handle all the possible combinations of individual folds.

Quantum algorithms take a new approach to these sorts of complex problems -- creating multidimensional spaces where the patterns linking individual data points emerge. In the case of a protein folding problem, that pattern might be the combination of folds requiring the least energy to produce. That combination of folds is the solution to the problem.

Classical computers can not create these computational spaces, so they can not find these patterns. In the case of proteins, there are already early quantum algorithms that can find folding patterns in entirely new, more efficient ways, without the laborious checking procedures of classical computers. As quantum hardware scales and these algorithms advance, they could tackle protein folding problems too complex for any supercomputer.

How complexity stumps supercomputers

Proteins are long strings of amino acids that become useful biological machines when they fold into complex shapes. Figuring out how proteins will fold is a problem with important implications for biology and medicine.

A classical supercomputer might try to fold a protein with brute force, leveraging its many processors to check every possible way of bending the chemical chain before arriving at an answer. But as the protein sequences get longer and more complex, the supercomputer stalls. A chain of 100 amino acids could theoretically fold in any one of many trillions of ways. No computer has the working memory to handle all the possible combinations of individual folds.

Quantum computers are built for complexityQuantum algorithms take a new approach to these sorts of complex problems -- creating multidimensional spaces where the patterns linking individual data points emerge. Classical computers can not create these computational spaces, so they can not find these patterns. In the case of proteins, there are already early quantum algorithms that can find folding patterns in entirely new, more efficient ways, without the laborious checking procedures of classical computers. As quantum hardware scales and these algorithms advance, they could tackle protein folding problems too complex for any supercomputer.

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What is Quantum Computing? | IBM

Quantinuum's quantum computer processes data on a device called an ion trap within this vacuum chamber.

Honeywell Quantum Solutions and Cambridge Quantum, two big companies in the nascent but potentially revolutionary quantum computing technology, completed merger plans to become a new company called Quantinuum on Tuesday. The new 400-employee company is a bigger competitor to tech giants like Google, IBM, Intel and Microsoft that also hope to cash in on quantum computing.

The two companies each contribute about half of the employees but have different specialties. Quantum computing hardware maker Honeywell Quantum Solutions is a subsidiary of Honeywell, an industrial giant that sold its mainframe business in 1986 but remains active in chemicals, aerospace and building management. Cambridge Quantum, based in the UK, focuses on the software needed to make quantum computers useful and accessible to customers.

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"We will be a center of gravity for the entire industry," said Ilyas Khan, founder of Cambridge Quantum and now chief executive of Quantinuum. Honeywell Quantum leader Tony Uttley now is chief operating officer.

Quantinuum's customers likely won't include you, at least directly, since quantum computers won't fit in your watch or laptop. But humming away in data centers, they have the potential to reshape things you do care about, like the efficiency of solar panels, the financial performance of your retirement fund and the development of new medicines.

The merger is a taste of what's to come for the young quantum computing industry as today's jumble of players consolidate into a smaller number with richer offerings, Hyperion Research analyst Bob Sorensen predicts. It's part of a move toward a "full stack" of quantum computing technology that customers prefer over cobbling together technology elements from multiple suppliers.

"We are still in the early stages of a shakeout in the sector," Sorensen said. "Consolidation and collaboration to move to some form of a full stack offering is a big ticket to-do for many quantum computing players at this point."

The tie-up completes a process the companies announced in June. Under the deal, Honeywell is contributing its subsidiary and a $300 million convertible note. It'll have a 54% stake in Quantinuum, but that could change as the company tries to capitalize on quantum computing investor interest. Shares of rival IonQ have risen 162% since going public in October, despite a net loss of $14.8 million in its most recent quarter.

"We do believe within the next 12 months we will be a publicly listed entity," Uttley said.

Conventional computers have settled down on one foundation -- silicon chips studded with billions of electronic on-off switches called transistors. But for quantum computers, tech giants and startups are pursuing a wide variety of designs. It's not yet clear which will prevail. It's possible multiple approaches will survive, each adapted for different tasks.

That's because quantum computers, at least for years to come, will function as accelerators for specific jobs out of classical computers' reach. The most famous possible quantum computing ability is cracking conventional encryption, though that ability will require a lot more improvement over today's comparatively primitive quantum computers, and the US government and industry allies are working on post-quantum cryptography techniques.

Nearer-term uses for quantum computers could include optimizing financial trading strategies, quantum chemistry to develop new materials, and applying artificial intelligence technology to natural language processing, Uttley said. In coming days, Quantinuum will announce a cybersecurity product, too.

Classical computers process data stored as bits that can be either a 1 or a 0, but all quantum computers instead use qubits that store a much more complicated state. Quantum physics, the weird rules of the ultrasmall, lets quantum computers link multiple qubits together and manipulate them to perform calculations.

Honeywell's approach uses a method called an ion trap the company expects will be good for quantum chemistry. But Cambridge Quantum will maintain its ability to work with different quantum computing hardware, too, including the superconducting circuits at the heart of the machines from IBM, Google and startup Rigetti Computing. That'll tap into the best tools for the job, Khan said, and keep Quantinuum in the good graces of customers who don't want to be reliant on a single company's machines.

"They are flexible about the hardware, which is good," said Constellation Research analyst Holger Mueller. "They would lose a lot if they did abandon that."

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Quantum computing heavyweight arrives as merger creates Quantinuum - CNET

An ion chamber houses the brains of a Honeywell quantum computer.

The Commerce Department on Wednesdaybarred US firms from exporting quantum computing technology to eight Chinese companies and labs to try to keep the country from decrypting sensitive US communications and developing new military technology.

"Global trade and commerce should support peace, prosperity, and good-paying jobs, not national security risks," Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said in a statement.

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Though still technologically immature, quantum computers eventually could crack conventional encryption. The US government also is leading an active program to develop post-quantum cryptography, but communications that are intercepted today could be exposed if quantum computers become powerful enough.

Quantum computers take advantage of the physics of the ultrasmall to perform a radically different type of computation than conventional computer chips in today's phones, laptops and supercomputers. But today they work only at small scales, are prone to errors that derail calculations and are finicky enough to require ultracold conditions.

The department also pointed to quantum computing military risks involving "counter-stealth and counter-submarine applications." It detailed in theFederal Registerthe Chinese organizations added to its entities list involving export controls.

Another market where quantum computers also have potential is simulating molecular structures that could lead to new materials. Military technology has benefited immensely from materials science in the past, so quantum computing could lead to new breakthroughs.

To capitalize on these breakthroughs, many US companies are investing billions of dollars in developing quantum computers. That includes Google, IBM, Microsoft, Honeywell, IonQ, Rigetti, D-Wave and Intel. Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai said in November thatChinese researchers are tied with Google in the race to develop quantum computing technology.

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US blocks export of quantum computing tech to Chinese organizations - CNET

The Linux Foundation has announced a new joint effort to help facilitate interoperability within the quantum computing ecosystem.

Dubbed Quantum Intermediate Representation (QIR), the alliance is part of the Linux Foundations efforts to promote the development and use of open standards.

The QIR Alliance will provide a single representation that can be used for both todays restricted capabilities and the more powerful systems of the future. This will allow the community to experiment with and develop optimizations and code transformations that work in a variety of use cases, remarked Bettina Heim, principal software engineering manager, Microsoft.

Along with the Linux Foundation, and Microsoft, QIR counts Honeywell, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Quantum Circuits Inc., and Rigetti Computing, as its founding members.

Linux Foundation argues that new software development kits (SDKs) for quantum computing are constantly appearing, and so are new quantum processors with unique and distinct capabilities.

QIR is the intermediate representation (IR) that helps glue and bridge the gap between the two, and provide interoperability in order to reduce the development effort from the various members of the quantum computing ecosystem.

Technically, QIR is based on the popular open source LLVM compiler toolchain, and specifies a set of rules for representing quantum programs within the LLVM IR.

QIR will help developers write quantum optimizers using the standard LLVM infrastructure, and tailor it to target specific hardware backends, or even link it with classical high performance libraries for quantum simulation.

QIR's announcement didn't list any specific near-term deliverables, or immediate priorities.

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Linux Foundation launches quantum computing alliance to drive interoperability - TechRadar

As one of the most promising future technologies, quantum computing has an enormous innovation potential. The BMW Group will in the future support research into the future technology of quantum computing at the RWTH Aachen University, thus once again emphasising its leading role in the development of a quantum ecosystem.

Prof. Dr. Ulrich Rdiger, Rector of the RWTH Aachen University, Alexander Buresch, CIO of BMW AG, and Dr. Stefan Floeck, Executive Mentor of the Strategic Partnership of the BMW Group and RWTH Aachen University and Senior Vice President Product Line MINI and BMW Compact Class, have signed the contract for establishing the Quantum Information Systems endowed chair.

The BMW Group is providing 4.5 million over a period of six years for professorship, equipment, and employees at the RWTH Aachen University. A further 1.0 million will be paid into a networking fund that supports industrial research projects and ensures that the chair is integrated in the university environment and in the research centre Jlich. In the chair the use cases from the core business of the BMW Group with a potential quantum advantage are contemplated comprehensively in terms of industrialisation. The common higher-order objective of the RWTH Aachen University and the BMW Group is to close the gap between outstanding basic research in Germany and the applicability of quantum computing in industry.

Dr. Stefan Floeck:The BMW Group can look back on many years of strategic partnership with the RWTH Aachen University. The close cooperation between companies and universities is mutually beneficial we at the BMW Group are convinced of that. With its excellent networked ecosystem and technological focus, the RWTH Aachen University is the perfect home for the endowed chair, which will offer valuable insight into the industrialisation of quantum solutions.

Prof. Dr. Ulrich Rdiger:Quantum technology is one of the major topics of the future, with enormous innovation potential for our social progress. With this endowed professorship, we can intensify our research in this area. As RWTH Aachen University, we like working in networks. We are convinced that we achieve the best solutions for future topics through a continuous exchange of knowledge and technology with partners from science, industry and society.

Alexander Buresch:The endowed chair at the RWTH Aachen University is an important step towards the potential use of quantum computing at the BMW Group. It creates software and integration competencies that are necessary for the industrialisation of the quantum computing ecosystem. Together with the Quantum Algorithms and Applications endowed chair at the Technical University of Munich, which we announced in June this year, we hope to unlock potential within the automotive value chain based on an end-to-end approach.

Quantum computing utilises quantum mechanical effects to accelerate computing capacity. As one of the most promising technologies of the future, it has the potential to push the limits of what is possible to date and revolutionise fields of application from material research to automated driving. The technology environment in the field of quantum computing is still only in its beginnings. University collaborations thus offer great potential.

On 16 June of this year, the BMW Group, together with the Technical University of Munich (TUM), already announced the establishment of the Quantum Algorithms and Applications endowed chair. The BMW Group will provide 5.1 million over a period of six years for professorship, equipment, and employees at TUM. The chair addresses the development of algorithms related to use cases along the industrial value chain.

For the BMW Group, the Quantum Information Systems endowed chair at RWTH Aachen University is an important addition to the existing chair in Munich. It contemplates use cases from the BMW Groups core business comprehensively in terms of industrialisation. Software integration and industrialisation skills are being created to implement a quantum advantage in the medium term.

As one of the leading technical universities in Europe, the RWTH Aachen University has been a strategic partner of the BMW Group since 2017. The RWTH Innovation is responsible for the key account management of the cooperation as the universitys central, cross-university research and technology transfer unit. It supports the BMW Group in networking, initiating, and coordinating projects at the RWTH Aachen University. Dr. Stefan Floeck, Senior Vice President Product Line MINI and BMW Compact Class, was appointed Executive Mentor of the partnership and is thus the link between the BMW Group and the RWTH Aachen University. His role includes continuously developing the partnership and pressing ahead with the cooperation.

The scientists and also the young academics at the technical university are already cooperating closely with the development departments of the BMW Group. The BMW Group itself provides students with practical information on requirements from industry. This can also be seen in the research promotion project KIZAM (Artificial Intelligence in requirements management). Four institutes of RWTH Aachen University, four departments of the BMW Group and four other industrial partners are involved in research on how Artificial Intelligence can accelerate and improve product development. The first joint Technology Day was a highlight of the strategic partnership, which provided a platform for dialogue between science and business in June of this year.

SOURCE: BMW Group

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Shaping the future of quantum computing together: BMW Group and RWTH Aachen University sign contract for Quantum Information Systems endowed chair -...

Dublin, Dec. 01, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Quantum Computing Market Research Report by Technology, by Deployment, by Offering, by End-Use, by Application, by Region - Global Forecast to 2026 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Global Quantum Computing Market size was estimated at USD 421.48 million in 2020 and expected to reach USD 509.61 million in 2021, at a CAGR of 21.24% to reach USD 1,339.16 million by 2026.

Market Statistics:

The report provides market sizing and forecast across five major currencies - USD, EUR GBP, JPY, and AUD. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2018 and 2019 are considered historical years, 2020 as the base year, 2021 as the estimated year, and years from 2022 to 2026 are considered the forecast period.

Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the Quantum Computing to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:

Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period.

FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Quantum Computing Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.

Market Share Analysis:

The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits.

Company Usability Profiles:

The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Quantum Computing Market, including 1QB Information Technologies Inc., Amazon, Amgen Inc, Anyon Systems Inc, Cambridge Quantum Computing Ltd, D-Wave Systems, Google, Honeywell International, Intel, International Business Machines, IonQ Inc., Microsoft, QC Ware, Quantum Circuits, Rigetti Computing, and River Lane Research.

The report provides insights on the following pointers:1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments

The report answers questions such as:1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Quantum Computing Market?2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Quantum Computing Market during the forecast period?3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Quantum Computing Market?4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Quantum Computing Market?5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Quantum Computing Market?6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Quantum Computing Market?7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Quantum Computing Market?

Key Topics Covered:

1. Preface

2. Research Methodology

3. Executive Summary

4. Market Overview

5. Market Insights5.1. Market Dynamics5.1.1. Drivers5.1.1.1. Growing demand for faster data operations, secure data transfer, and communications5.1.1.2. Early adoption of quantum computing in banking and finance industry5.1.1.3. Rise in investments in quantum computing technology5.1.2. Restraints5.1.2.1. Accuracy and fault tolerance to ensure the reliability5.1.3. Opportunities5.1.3.1. Market instabilities detected by identifying stock market risks and optimize the trading trajectories, portfolios, and asset pricing and hedging5.1.3.2. Surge in number of strategic partnerships and collaborations to carry out advancements in quantum computing technology5.1.4. Challenges5.1.4.1. Extremely costly process5.2. Cumulative Impact of COVID-19

6. Quantum Computing Market, by Technology6.1. Introduction6.2. Quantum Annealing6.3. Superconducting Qubits6.4. Topological and Photonic6.5. Trapped Ions

7. Quantum Computing Market, by Deployment7.1. Introduction7.2. Cloud-Based7.3. On Premise

8. Quantum Computing Market, by Offering8.1. Introduction8.2. Consulting8.3. Quantum Computing as a Service (QCaaS)8.4. Services8.5. Systems

9. Quantum Computing Market, by End-Use9.1. Introduction9.2. Banking & Finance9.3. Banking and Finance9.4. Chemicals9.5. Energy and Power9.6. Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals9.7. Space and Defense

10. Quantum Computing Market, by Application10.1. Introduction10.2. Machine Learning10.3. Optimization10.4. Quantum Chemistry10.5. Quantum Finance10.6. Simulation

11. Americas Quantum Computing Market11.1. Introduction11.2. Argentina11.3. Brazil11.4. Canada11.5. Mexico11.6. United States

12. Asia-Pacific Quantum Computing Market12.1. Introduction12.2. Australia12.3. China12.4. India12.5. Indonesia12.6. Japan12.7. Malaysia12.8. Philippines12.9. Singapore12.10. South Korea12.11. Taiwan12.12. Thailand

13. Europe, Middle East & Africa Quantum Computing Market13.1. Introduction13.2. France13.3. Germany13.4. Italy13.5. Netherlands13.6. Qatar13.7. Russia13.8. Saudi Arabia13.9. South Africa13.10. Spain13.11. United Arab Emirates13.12. United Kingdom

14. Competitive Landscape14.1. FPNV Positioning Matrix14.1.1. Quadrants14.1.2. Business Strategy14.1.3. Product Satisfaction14.2. Market Ranking Analysis14.3. Market Share Analysis, By Key Player14.4. Competitive Scenario14.4.1. Merger & Acquisition14.4.2. Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership14.4.3. New Product Launch & Enhancement14.4.4. Investment & Funding14.4.5. Award, Recognition, & Expansion

15. Company Usability Profiles15.1. 1QB Information Technologies Inc.15.2. Amazon15.3. Amgen Inc15.4. Anyon Systems Inc15.5. Cambridge Quantum Computing Ltd15.6. D-Wave Systems15.7. Google15.8. Honeywell International15.9. Intel15.10. International Business Machines15.11. IonQ Inc.15.12. Microsoft15.13. QC Ware15.14. Quantum Circuits15.15. Rigetti Computing15.16. River Lane Research

16. Appendix

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/1jbcfw

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Insights on the Quantum Computing Global Market to 2026 - - GlobeNewswire